Procedure Guide · Injectables
Botox in Gangnam: The Practical Guide
From forehead lines to jaw slimming — what Korean clinics actually offer, and why the brand on the vial changes the price.
Median is the midpoint of the advertised domestic wrinkle-botox range, not a survey of quoted totals.
Also called: anti-wrinkle injections (UK/Australia), neuromodulator or "tox" (US). Korean clinics usually price botox per area rather than per unit — so a US-style "how much per unit" comparison needs the area dose to convert. "Baby botox" (micro-dosing) and jaw slimming (masseter botox) are both widely offered in Korea under those same names.
The three things people call 'botox'
1. Wrinkle botox relaxes the muscles that crease the skin — forehead, frown lines (glabella), crow's feet, bunny lines. Lasts 3–4 months. 2. Jaw (masseter) botox shrinks the chewing muscle to slim a square jaw; effect builds over weeks and lasts longer. 3. Body botox — calf slimming, trapezius (shoulder line), and underarm botox for excessive sweat (hyperhidrosis). Same molecule, very different dosing and technique.
Domestic vs. imported brands
Same principle, different price — and both work.
Korea makes several domestic botulinum toxins (e.g. Coretox, Botulax, Nabota) that are widely used and much cheaper than imported Botox (Allergan), Xeomin (Merz). Imported brands are not automatically 'better' for every case, but some patients prefer them for consistency or if a domestic product hasn't worked well. The right move: ask which brand is included in the quoted price, and don't assume the cheapest banner price uses the brand you expect.
What to verify before you pay
Approximate 2026 price range in Gangnam
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Wrinkle botox (per area, domestic) | ₩30,000 – ₩100,000 |
| Jaw / masseter (domestic) | ₩50,000 – ₩150,000 |
| Imported brand (Botox/Xeomin, per area) | ₩100,000 – ₩250,000 |
| Body (calf / trapezius) | ₩150,000 – ₩500,000 |
Cheaper advertised prices often exclude anesthesia, design fee, VAT, or use a lower device tier — compare all-in totals.
Where to get Botox — our shortlist
Botox result rides on placement and honest brand disclosure. Among profiled clinics, these combine injectable focus with transparency.
1. Gold J Clinic — Seolleung
An injectables-specialty clinic with the deepest local review base on our list (2,700+) — high volume of exactly this kind of work.
2. Abijou Clinic — Cheongdam
Publishes botox event pricing openly every month and runs seven-language support — the transparent, foreigner-ready pick.
3. Brandnew Clinic — Cheongdam
Botox placed within a whole-face design approach; good for jaw and expression balance rather than isolated units.
4. PIND Dermatology — Apgujeong
Dermatologist-led, concern-based consultation — solid for wrinkle and expression botox with a medical lens.
5. BLS Clinic — Cheongdam
Single-doctor care — the person who assesses your muscles injects them.
These are clinics we have profiled that offer this treatment, shortlisted by relevant strength — editorial, based on public info. Device tier, shot/line count, and who operates matter more than the name; confirm directly, and apply the 5-check method.
FAQ
How long does botox last?
Wrinkle botox typically 3–4 months; jaw and body botox often longer as the muscle stays reduced. Results build over 3–7 days for wrinkles and over 2–4 weeks for jaw slimming.
Domestic or imported botox — does it matter?
For most first-timers, quality domestic Korean botox works well and costs far less. Imported brands (Botox, Xeomin) cost more and some patients prefer them for consistency. Ask which brand your price includes; the cheapest ad may not be the brand you assumed.
Does botox hurt?
The injections are quick fine-needle pricks; most people tolerate them with or without numbing cream. Jaw and body areas use more injection points.
Can botox go wrong?
Poor placement can cause temporary droop, asymmetry, or a frozen look — which is why the injector matters more than the price. These effects are temporary but can last weeks, so choose for skill, not the lowest per-area banner.
What is the median botox price in Gangnam as of September 2026?
As of September 2026, domestic wrinkle botox in Gangnam is advertised at ₩30,000–₩100,000 per area, with a midpoint of about ₩65,000 (roughly USD 48). Imported brands run ₩100,000–₩250,000 per area. The figures are compiled from publicly advertised Gangnam clinic pricing, not from quotes collected from clinics.
Sources
One fact is worth carrying into a Gangnam consultation. In the United States, BOTOX Cosmetic is licensed under BLA 103000, and its approved cosmetic indications — per the current FDA label, effective 18 October 2024 — are limited to four things: moderate-to-severe glabellar lines, lateral canthal lines, forehead lines and platysma bands in adults. Masseter or "jawline" botox and calf or "body" botox, both routinely advertised in Gangnam, are not on that list; in the U.S. they are off-label uses. Korean approvals are issued separately by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and products licensed in Korea are not the same set as products licensed in the U.S. None of that makes these treatments unusual or improper in Korea — they are common and long-established here. It does mean the right question is which product is being injected, in what units, and on what basis, rather than treating "botox" as one standardised thing.
- U.S. FDA — Drugs@FDA, BLA 103000 (onabotulinumtoxinA), sponsor Allergan. The biologics licence covering both BOTOX and BOTOX Cosmetic. Drugs@FDA record
- U.S. FDA — current prescribing information for BOTOX Cosmetic (Structured Product Label, effective 18 October 2024). Cosmetic indications are limited to temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate-to-severe glabellar lines, lateral canthal lines, forehead lines and platysma bands in adults. openFDA label record
- Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Republic of Korea — Medical Devices: Approval Process. Korea's device regulator. Devices are classified by risk; Class III and IV devices are approved by MFDS itself, under the Medical Device Act (Law No. 6909, in force since 30 May 2004). mfds.go.kr (English)
Every record listed above was opened directly at the issuing agency and its content confirmed on September 12, 2026 — links are given so you can repeat the check rather than take our word for it. U.S. FDA records describe United States regulatory status only; treatment performed in Korea is governed by Korean approvals issued by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Nothing in this list is medical advice or an endorsement of any product or clinic.